Shield for recurrent laryngeal nerve and associated methods

Abstract

A method includes covering or contacting a portion of a recurrent laryngeal nerve of a subject with a shield including extraembryonic tissue. The covering occurs during a neck or reconstructive surgery of the subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 performing a neck surgery on a subject; and 
 during the neck surgery, covering a portion of a recurrent laryngeal nerve of the subject with a shield comprising biologic tissue, the biologic tissue being not of the subject. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the subject has surrounding tissue surrounding the laryngeal nerve, the surrounding tissue being of a shape, wherein the biologic tissue is flexible such that the tissue takes on the shape of the surrounding tissue. 
     
     
       3. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is a man-made biologic. 
     
     
       4. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is dissolvable or absorbable within a few days. 
     
     
       5. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue has a thickness such that the biologic tissue is translucent or transparent. 
     
     
       6. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is malleable. 
     
     
       7. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is transparent. 
     
     
       8. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is translucent. 
     
     
       9. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is non-inflammatory. 
     
     
       10. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue is non-immunogenic. 
     
     
       11. The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the biologic tissue comprises extracellular Matrix (ECM), growth factors, fibronectin, proteoglycans, laminin, and/or proteins. 
     
     
       12. A method comprising:
 performing a thyroidectomy on a subject; and 
 covering a pre-ischemic or ischemic parathyroid gland of the subject with extraembryonic tissue, wherein the parathyroid gland is in-situ during the covering of the parathyroid gland with the extraembryonic tissue, wherein the covering of the parathyroid gland with the extraembryonic tissue occurs after the thyroidectomy. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the thyroidectomy is a total thyroidectomy. 
     
     
       14. The method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising refraining from removing the extraembryonic tissue from the subject after covering the parathyroid gland with the extraembryonic tissue such that the extraembryonic tissue is in the subject post-surgery. 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 covering a parathyroid gland with a layer of extraembryonic tissue, wherein the parathyroid gland is in-situ during the covering of the parathyroid gland with the extraembryonic tissue. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the covering of the parathyroid gland with the extraembryonic tissue comprises laying the layer of extraembryonic tissue over the parathyroid gland. 
     
     
       17. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the layer of extraembryonic tissue has a shape that is square, rectangular, circular, oblong, or irregular. 
     
     
       18. The method as set forth in  claim 17  wherein the square is from 0.5 cm×0.5 cm to 2 cm×2 cm, the rectangle or oblong is from 0.5 cm to 2 cm×0.5 cm to 2 cm, or the circle has a diameter of from about 0.5 cm to 2 cm. 
     
     
       19. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the parathyroid gland is ischemic or pre-ischemic during the covering step. 
     
     
       20. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the extraembryonic tissue comprises one or more of human amniotic tissue, human chorionic tissue, non-human amniotic tissue, or non-human chorionic tissue. 
     
     
       21. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the extraembryonic tissue comprises amniotic tissue and chorionic tissue. 
     
     
       22. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the extraembryonic tissue comprises human amniotic tissue and human chorionic tissue. 
     
     
       23. The method as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising contacting the parathyroid gland with a stem cell, a stem cell exudate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       24. The method as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the stem cell and/or stem cell exudate is an autologous stem cell and/or an autologous stem cell exudate. 
     
     
       25. The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein a subject has parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and serum calcium levels, wherein the PTH levels and serum calcium levels are monitored before covering the parathyroid gland and/or after covering the parathyroid gland and wherein the PTH levels and serum calcium levels return to baseline or near baseline levels more quickly in comparison to control cohort subjects who have undergone a procedure wherein the parathyroid gland is exposed but has not received a layer of extraembryonic tissue.